Congratulations to Harry from Columbus, Georgia. He is the April Winner of our online Left Hand and Mountainsmith Giveaway!

We know you'd rather be drinking a beer than paying attention to politics. So would we...but sometimes issues come up that affect your ability to get the beer you want when and where you want it.

Right now, in different states, there are laws being considered to limit small brewers' ability to distribute their own beer, and increase excise taxes on beer. Those are just a few of many.

We keep a close eye on these issues because what comes up in the legislature in one state often pops up in others. The effects of any of these laws, whether good or bad, are felt by small breweries, like us, and significantly affect our ability to do business.

And that, my fellow beer lovers, affects the where, what, why and how you drink beer.

For this reason, we've partnered with Beer Activists: Support Your Local Brewery, a national, grassroots partnership of beer enthusiasts, professional trade associations and brewers dedicated to supporting and protecting the legislative and regulatory interests of small, traditional and independent craft breweries.

Right now, they're looking for Beer Activists. Sign-up at www.SuppportYourLocalBrewery.org so when legislation comes up that affects the breweries in our state, you'll know about it. Of course as an Activist you'll be asked to take action. Check out the web site mentioned above to find out more.

Now that we've bent your ear a bit, we hope you'll Support Your Local Brewery, become a Beer Activist and come on by to visit us for pint of your favorite brew really soon.

Thanks for the support!

    Hello to all and thanks for checking in on the lonely Brewhouse staff, the tireless individuals who unceasingly make the beer, much as the Keebler elves silently make the cookies. Often times there isn't much notice given them until the cookies run out. There is however a time of year when the focus of the industry becomes brewers and the needs of brewers. As many are aware, the Craft Brewer's Conference and Brew Expo were held in Austin, TX the week of April 18-21. The event is organized by the Brewer's Association and consists of a series of educational seminars focused on the technical and market aspects of craft beer. The Brew Expo is a trade show where suppliers of raw materials, equipment, process aids and marketing supplies gather to show their wares and expose brewers to the latest technologies available to them. There are talks given on everything from brewery maintenance and process to the use of non- traditional ingredients. There are marketing discussions to help us get our beer out to future adoring fans all over the world. This of course is another important aspect of a brewer's life, how to get people to drink more craft beer.

     Our brewery delegation consisted of five members of our staff. Eric Wallace and Chris Lennert focused their efforts on the sales/ marketing aspects and spent considerable time in the Texas market before the conference even began. From the production staff we had Joe Schiraldi, Andy Brown and Ro Guenzel. We had much to ponder with an eminent brewhouse expansion on the horizon. We managed to spec out and purchase a semi- automatic corking machine to help with our ever increasing and popular Big Mo' Series. If the gods are with us we will be packaging the Ryebock with this new equipment, much to the pleasure of our packaging team which has spent way too many hours manually corking Big Mo' bottles.

    Besides the actual educational seminars there is also the annual Brewer's Association members meeting. Being a person who enjoys a little controversy now and again, this proved to be of great interest to me. There is a desire by the BA Board of Directors to define what craft beer is. They view it as a way to market our segment of the beer industry. It also has a big effect on which members have voting rights and which do not. The goal is to unite us all under one banner with one credo by which to educate people who are not yet fully exposed to what we are all about. There is nothing like defining, and as a result, excluding people from being able to say they are craft brewers. Let's face it, this is a diverse, entrepreneurial, independent and proud bunch. Nothing can get them hotter under the collar than to start setting up ground rules. There was much heated banter and as a result I feel the BA Board is going to have a bit more discussion on this one.

     In the past couple of years there has been many presentations geared toward selling craft beer in Europe and Asia. There is a big focus by the BA to expose the rest of the world to the American brewing renaissance, and to aid small brewers like us getting into these markets. American brewers are making some of the best and most diverse beer in the world. As Americans we should all feel proud of the respect and appreciation that has grown internationally for American Craft Beer. There may not be a lot of concern with the NFL draft around the planet but our industry is starting to turn some heads with draught beer.

     Perhaps one of the most beneficial and enjoyable aspects of the CBC is the networking and socializing that occurs after hours. It's quite rewarding to spend time with your peers and enjoy each other's triumphs, failures and challenges. In many instances, information gleaned from this kind of interaction is as valuable as any aspect of the conference. Of course it's always excellent to just enjoy and appreciate beer with others who enjoy and appreciate beer. Austin is a great town and has many venues to keep a large group of brewers entertained well into the wee hours of the morning. It takes a little time but eventually you can function perfectly well on four to five hours of sleep a night.

     Well, all great parties must come to an end. As Andy and I fired up our motorcycles for the long ride back to Denver, I thought fondly of the old friends I had seen and the new friends I had made, eager to travel the road that laid out before me. The Craft Brewer's Conference is one of the highlights of being a craft brewer in this country. The spirit to be found there exemplifies the strength and non- traditional elements of this business. All those who jump in this thin raft as brewers, wholesalers, and consumers set a benchmark for all other industry, to cut the corporate BS and embark on a journey that benefits its customers, participants and society as a whole. I hope to see you in San Diego!

                                                          Joe Schiraldi

                                                          VP Brewing Ops

The Tasting Room is now open from 12:00PM to 9:00PM on Fridays.

May 8^th - Teacher Appreciation Day